The ripple effect...

My daughter was there, at the scene. She didn't know this person (A pregnant woman) on the top floor of the hotel.

She jumped.

My daughter was deeply affected by it. In turn, my daughters reaction (and
the memories she must carry with her for the rest of her life) has deeply affected me. My sadness affects my husband.

There's a ripple effect even when it's a stranger....

Actions always have consequences.. not that I'm blaming that women, just makes you think..

exactly, I have seen this too. I am so sorry you are all going through this. I'm not sure what can be done. I will never forget.

I'm not sure anything can be done either. It's the effect that strangers have on us that we can't seem to figure out. Maybe she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe it was some kind of lesson.

Maybe it was bad luck.

I just wish that those who are feeling suicidal would have to sit through a "training" class that outlines that what they do doesn't just affect them and their immediate family. It affects strangers. And future people that you never will meet.

Meanwhile, a mom somewhere has a broken heart over what her daughter had to see.

I am so sorry that you all went through this.

I knew someone who did something similar and I have often thought of the uninvolved witnesses who will never forget that day.

Of course she was not thinking rationally at the time and was very desparate and distressed, I doubt she was capable of thinking about these things such as the ripples. Hard to imagine what her thoughts were.

(((((sophiesmom)))))

I agree. Suicide is a completely selfish action to take.

And that is a completely ignorant statement to make.

Is It Selfish to Die in a Tornado? : Speaking of Suicide

Not as selfish as being such a mean person to somebody that the person who's life you've make a living hell would consider suicide as a way to escape from the pain you've caused them.

Then again, I firmly believe that ALL humans are selfish and only care about others when it benefits them in some manner, therefore, debating rather or not a particular action is selfish or not is a moot point.

I saw a guy shooting up right across the street from me the other day when my window was open. I know that's not really the same thing but it still disturbs me.

Please don't glorify that most selfish of actions. Also, please don't derail this thread. It's not all about you, ya know.

When I had a plan...and the means. I didn't think of myself as being selfish. I NEEDED this to escape the intense pain. I considered the sadness of those who were left behind, but my need to escape the pain was paramount.

I never once considered those outside my immediate family....I simply didn't think they would care or notice.

In some sick, twisted way...I would feel worse to have an effect on those I don't know. And who have no inkling as to WHY I did it....
I know this thinking is wrong and probably not understandable to most. It just is what I feel.

When I was six years old I witnessed a woman throw herself out of a sixth-floor building. It traumatized me at the time. Now I just feel sad for the woman.

“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.”
― Pema Chödrön

I didn't have any problem with the article and its conclusion that the suicide is neither selfish nor selfless. Here are some additional read. (The author of the linked article above was inspired to write the piece after reading a column on Patti Stevens's suicide, so here goes.)

no-patti-stevens-wasnt-selfish-she-was-hurt

Columnist takes a stand on suicide, and gets it all wrong

We are not thinking about murder-suicide case here, so I don't agree with shaming a dead person like Sharon Grigsby, a Dallas Morning News columnist did in this case. Speaking of the ripple effect of this thread title, some of you probably have read about the news of the semicolon lady, she passed away. I'm sure people are working on preventions more than ever but that's just a big irony and questions for anyone who's wearing that semicolon tatoo, it's just something to think about. To feel sad, angry, or worried about suicidal person, past or present, seems to me like a moral judgment that I should avoid and overcome internally, anyways, sophiesmom, your posts sound a bit selfish to me, like projecting your thoughts and emotions while trying to grasp the idea with words like "maybe", "why", and "needed". Would it be kinder to leave a note, then? How about calling a hotline and what if it didn't work? Some people have the idea of the next life, which I don't. Some parents sometimes claim to do anything for their kids, statement like that scares me inside.

We soon might be testing an artificial wombs, in the mean while, really old and sick people are kept alive and different countries have different euthanasia policies, we also treat our pet's death differently to human's. I need to know everyone's ethical standings on various issues before I agree to something like that.

Takeshi I admit to not understand many of your postings very well. I don't know why.

I'm not sure if you read through all of mine, or simply focus on words or phrases that stand out to you.

It seems to me that we don't understand each other. However, I hope your viewpoint may be of value to anyone who reads this thread.

Unfortunately, suicide happens everyday and it's something we are all exposed to in some way.

I lived in a newer small neighborhood that was a culdesac. I would see off and on this boy walking down the street to his house. Then one day there were a lot of police cars and ambulances because he hung himself in the basement. He was only turning 14.

There was a young family behind me where the woman had twins. Then one day she shocked everyone because she committed suicide. So, just on that little culdesac of about 10 homes in what looked like a picture perfect new neighborhood there were individuals that were suffering to the point where they took their own lives. I don't think any notes were left either.

It could be seen as a selfish act, yet it could also serve as a warning where we need to understand how important it is to pay attention to others and how these individuals may be suffering alone and get so bad they get to this point where they end their own lives.

I was dangerously suicidal myself and it's not what people think it is. I had never imagined experiencing that state of mind where it's not a thought but a strong impulse. At the time I was struggling so badly that all I thought about was how it was so bad that it would be better for everyone around me if I was not around to be such a burden. I had enough messages from others, sadly even professionals, that I had no right to value what I lost and that I was being selfish for having a pts breakdown that it made the pts worse and worse. I am fortunate that I came across someone who told me that these impulses that come on so strong come in waves and if I notice they come in, get strong, then subside. I did notice that and at least when these impulses got so strong, I knew enough to hold on until they subsided. I also got lucky in that I finally found a therapist that understood PTSD and helped me slowly make gains and that was a battle that I struggled with for about a year.

Actually, it can be like having a panic attack in that a person doesn't decide to experience it, instead it just comes over the person completely crippling that person. When reading about panic attacks, one learns they tend to come out of no where and can last for 20 minutes until it slowly subsides. If a person gets frightened enough by it, they can experience more. If a person is told what it means, they "can" slowly learn to manage it, or at least understand that it will pass and how it will pass faster if the person learns to be patient until it passes.

A person who is struggling may come across what I have posted and as it did for myself, it may save that person's life understanding the strong "impulse" and that it comes in, crests, then subsides. And, one can work their way past it with help. I know because I have lived through this first hand.

I would not have left a note, and when it's really bad the person doesn't even have the capacity to articulate how badly they are suffering.